Posted by SLS on June 27, 2008, at 7:00:06
In reply to Re: Lithium resistance?, posted by Looney Tunes on June 27, 2008, at 1:53:22
> This is true of alot of medications.
>
> But one problem with Lithium is that when you stop taking it and then go back on it, it is not as effective and there is a greater chance that it will not work. This is well documented.
The term used in the past for this phenomenon has been "Lithium-induced lithium refractoriness". There have been a few retrospective studies and anecdotal accounts of this happening. As is often the case in psychiatry, there is debate whether or not this occurs at all. I don't think this lithium refractoriness has been proven such that it would be taken into consideration by those practicing evidence-based medicine.One tragic anecdote that I know of involves woman who was maintained effectively on lithium for eight years. Her doctor thought that this was enough time to produce a continued remission after discontinuing the lithium. Within a month of discontinuation, she relapsed, never to respond to lithium again. She has been chronically depressed for 18 years and cannot function inside or outside the house.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:836653
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080626/msgs/836721.html